Automatic sealant-sealed valve



April 18, T967 A. s. voLPlN AUTOMAT IC SEALANT SEALED `VALVE Filed April27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO/P/Vfk A. S. VOLFIN April 18, 1967 AUTOMATI C SEALANT SEALED VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, l64

.f4/@Xander J. Vo/,o/f?

INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,314,442 AUTOMATIC SEALANT-SEALED VALVE AlexanderS. Volpn, 10200 W. Broadview Drive, Miami Beach, Fla. 33139 Filed Apr.27, 1964, Ser. No. 362,802 15 Claims. (Cl. 137-246.12)

This invention relates to valves of the automatic-sealing type employinga flowable sealant, such as lubricant or other plastic-type material forsealing between the closure and seat elements of the valve. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to automatic sealant-sealedgate valves of the through-conduit type.

Valves of the through-conduit type are now commonly employed forcontrolling very large diameter pipe lines, such as oil and gas lines,and necessarily constitute very large, massive structures designed tocontrol large volume iluid ilows under substantial pressures. In orderto reduce the very great mass of such valve structures, the difficultyof machining the parts thereof, and the cost, the current trend is tomanufacture such large valves by fabrication from steel Iplates andtubes, which may be shaped and welded by relatively simple and cheapprocedures to form the elements of the valve.

One of the disadvantages of employing fabricated valves, particularly inlarge sizes, is that the relatively light or thin metal sectionsconstituting many of the valve parts are subject to some degrees of`distortion under the fluid pressures and other stresses encountered inoperation and they are, therefore, subject to leakage and otherdiiculties arising from such distortions.

Accordingly, the present invention has among its primary objects, theprovision of an automatic sealing arrangement by which both the upstreamand downstream sides of the valve may be simultaneously sealed with afiowable sealant in response to pressure differentials across the valve.By such simultaneous dual sealing, one of the diiTculties experiencedwith more. conventional valve designs, particularly of the fabricatedtype, is overcome.

A further important object of this invention is the provision, in anautomatic sealant-sealed valve of the gen* eral character mentioned, ofa closure construction of the segmented gate-type which employs novelmeans permitting angular adjustment of the gate segments in order thatthe sealing faces of the gate segments will be enabled to conform todeviations in the gate seats produced as a result of pressure andtemperature distortions or construction inaccuracies.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of this invention willbecome more readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustratesuseful embodiments in accordance with this invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one form of valve in accordance withthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 2 2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken generally along line 3 3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, partly elevational view takengenerally along line '4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modification of aportion of the valve structure.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. l illustrates an elevational view of .avalve of the fabricated type constructed in accordance with thisinvention. As seen, the valve comprises a generally tubular body 1 0which may be 3,314,442 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 constructed of ordinarypipe of the 4requisite diameter for the particular size valve desired,the bore of body 10 deining a valve chamber 11 (FIG. 2). At its upperend Ibody 10 is provided with an annular bonnet ange 12 adapted toreceive a matching platedtype bonnet 13 for closing the up-per end ofvalve chamber 11. The connection between `bonnet 13 and flange 12 mayI'be made by the usual stud bolts or cap screws 13a. At its lower endbody 10 is provided with a closure plate 14 which may be secured to thebody as by welding 1'5 and forms a closure for the lower end of valvechamber 11. Intermediate its ends body 10 is provided at diametricallyopposite points with registering 4circular openings 16-16 adapted toreceive short tubular nipples 17-17 defining ow ports 1818. Nipples 17may be secured to the walls of body 10 in openings 16 as by means ofwelding 19. It will vbe understood that either one of the ow ports -18may be the upstream ow port and the other the downstream How port. Atits inner end each of the nipples 17 is secured coaxially to an annularseat receptacle 20 as by the welding 21. The seat receptacle includes anannular bottom wall 22 and an annular peripheral flange 23 extendinginwardly of valve chamber 1.1, the seat receptacles secured to theyrespective nipples facing inwardly toward each other. yMounted foraxial sliding movement in each of the seat receptacles is an annularseat member 24 comprising a cylindrical shank 25 and an enlarged head26, the outer end face of which defines a closure-engaging sealing face27 which is provided intermediate its inner and outer peripheries withan annular sealing gro-ove 28. The periphery of head portion 26 of eachof the seat members is xedly secured to vertically extending guideplates 29, the inner faces of which are parallel and flush with endfaces 27 of the respective seat members. Guide plates 29 terminate attheir lower ends a short distance above bottom closure plate 14 and arealso spaced slightly from bonnet 13. Guide plates 29 serve to guide aclosure member, designated generally by the numeral 30, in itsreciprocatory movements -between the seat members. Annular springs 31are positioned in the seat receptacles in compression between bottomwalls 22 thereof and the inner ends of Shanks of the seat members tobias the seat members outwardly of the receptacles and toward theopposed faces of closure member 30. An annular seal packing 32 isarranged between shank 25 and the inner wall of ange of the seatreceptacle to provide a fluid-tight slidable seal between theseelements.

Closure member 30 in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, is agate-type closure of generally at, generally rectangular configurationand comprising parallel segments 33-33 having substantially at outersealing faces 34-34. The upper portions of the gate segments are madesolid and define iiow-way-closing portions 35-35, and the lower portionsof the gate segments are intersected by coaxial circular openings 36-36adapted to register co-axially with the owway through the valve when theclosure member is in its uppermost position, closure portions 35-35being dimensioned and disposed to intersect and close-off the owway whenthe closure member is in its lowermost position, as seen in FIG. 2.Closure portions 35 are provided at about the mid-point of their opposedinner faces with generally semi-spherical sockets or recesses 37-3-7adapted to receive a -ballshaped bearing member 38 which is arranged tohold the gate segments in slightly spaced relation while permitting alimited degree of relatively angular movement between the gate segment.Vertically extending ribs 39 are mounted on opposite sides of chamber 11to function as guide rails engaging the side edges of closure member 30,and in cooperation with guide plates 29 accurately guide the closuremember in its reciprocatory movements.

A stem member 40 is operably connected to closure member 30 by aconnection means, designated generally by the numeral 41, the details ofwhich will be described hereinafter. Stem member 4t) extends upwardlythrough a Vstuffing box 42 in bonnet 13, the stuffing box having packing43 disposed therein about the stem member under compression of a gland44.Y A cap 45 has a central opening 46 therein to receive the upper endof stem member 40 and is attachable to the upper face of bonnet 13 bymeans of bolts 47, serving also to apply pressure to gland 44 forcompressing the stuffing box packing. A tubular housing 48 is mounted ontop of lcap 45 concentrically surrounding the upper end portion 40a ofstem member 40, the latter portion of the stem member being providedwith external threads 49. A drive nut 50 is mounted on threaded portion49 and is supported in anti-friction bearings 51 mounted in a cap 52carried on theupper end of housing 48. The upper end of nut 50 isprovided with ats for reception of an operator of any suitable form bywhich rotation of drive nut 50 may be eected for reciprocating stemmember 40. A lock nut 53 is mounted on the upper end of the stem memberto engage the drive mechanism to limit downward movement of the closuremember. i

Connector means 41 includes an inverted, generally T-shaped head 54carried by the lower end of stern member 40 and adapted to be receivedin a correspondingly shaped slot 55 extending laterally equally intoclosure segments 33 from the inner faces thereof and transversely of thesegments from side edge to side edge thereof. Stem member 40 carries anannular ange 56 which is vertically spaced from T-head 54 at a distancesuch that it will ride on the upper ends of the closure segments whenT-head 54 is in place in T-slot 55.

Each side of the valve is provided with a separate automaticsealant-sealing system. As both systems are identical, the followingdescription will be limited to one of the systems, it being understoodthat this description is applicable to both.

The sealing system comprises a generally tubular reservoir 60 disposedin chamber 11 between guide plate 29 and the wall of the chamber. Thereservoir is provided with a slidable piston or barrier 61, such as isconventionally employed in automatic sealing systems of the kind hereincontemplated. The upper end of reservoir 60 above the barrier, is closedby means of a cap 62 having a passage 63 therein which communicates atone end with the interior of reservoir 60 above barrier 61 and at theother end with a conduit 64, the lower end of which communicates with aport 65 opening through the wall of nipple 17 into communication withflow port 18. The lower portion of reservoir 60 below barrier 61 is incommunication through a port 66 with a conduit 67 leading to theexterior of body 10 and connected exteriorly of the latter with aconventional pressure-type sealant tting 68 (see TIG. 3), through whicha flowable sealant S may be introduced into reservoir 60 beneath barrier61. A discharge passageway 69 leads through the bottom wall of reservoir60 into communication with a passage 70 extending radially throughflange 23 of the seat receptacle. Passage 78, in turn, registers with anannular groove 71 which encircles shank 25 of seat member 24 and a shortpassage 72 connects groove 71 with a passage 73 which extends generallylongitudinally of seat member 24 and opens to end face 27 at a pointbetween groove 28 and the outer periphery of head 26 of the seat member.An outwardly opening check valve 74 of any suitable and generallyconventional construction, is mounted in discharge passage 69 and isarranged to permit discharge of sealant S from reservoir 60, whilepreventing back-flow of iluid into the reservoir. By locating checkvalve 74 in passage 69, the check valve will be continuously bathed insealant, which is of a character such that the check valve will beprotected against being cut out or otherwise becoming inoperative in thesealing system.

Sealing faces 34 of the closure segments are provided near their upperends with short jumper recesses 75 which may be circular and having adiameter such that when the closure member is in the lowermost ofowway-closing position, seen in FIG. 2, each recess will providecommunication between the end of the related passage 73 and sealinggroove 28, so that in this position sealant from reservoir 6d may owthrough the several inter-connecting passages into groove 28 on therelated side of the closure member.

Each of the closure segments 33 is provided at points generally co-axialwith jumper recesses 75 with registering openings 76 which communicatewith the related jumper recesses 75. The inner portions of recesses 75are enlarged in diameter through a portion of their length to receive atubular sleeve 77 which spans the space between the closure segments andis constructed of a flexible material which will preferably be a plasticor rubber-like composition, but may be of a metallic character adaptedto ex or bend in some degree, as may be required for purposes to bedescribed hereinafter. Sleeve 77 has an axial bore 78, the ends of whichare in communication with jumper recesses 75 through t-he outer endportions of openings 76. T-head 54 is provided with a transverse opening79 to permit installation of sleeve 77 across the space between theclosure segments.V

To bleed out fluid which may be trapped under pressure in chamber 11 ofthe valve when the latter is in closed position, there is provided inbottom closure plate 14 a vent passage 80 which communicates with athreaded socket 81 in which is mounted a screw plug V82 having an axialpassage S3 therein communicating with a side pasasge S4 which leads tothe exterior of plug 82. The bottom 84 of socket 81 forms a seat for theinnerend of plug 82 which, when engaged with the seat, will closeot ventpassage 89. When plug 82 is unscrewed by a few turns, side passage 84will be placed into communication with the bottom of socket 8'1 andthence with passage Si), allowing pressure fluid to be vented throughpassages 80, 84, and 83 to the exterior of the valve.

In operation, as noted previously, either side of the valve may beV theupstream andthe other the downstream side, the substantially identicalconstruction of both sides of the valve permitting installation of thevalve in a' pipe line with either end being theupstreain end.

For purposes of this description, the direction of flow of fluid throughthe valve is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, the right-hand sidebeing the upstream side and the left-hand side being the downstreamside.

When the closure member has been moved downwardly to attain theflowway-closed position, shown in FIG. 2, a diierential in pressure willbe established across the valve. The upstream pressure will then -beexerted through the upstream port 65, conduit 64, and passage 63 intothe upper portion of the upstream reservoir 60 above barrier 61, forcingthe latter downwardly and causing sealant S to be forced outwardlythrough discharge passages 69 and intoV annular groove 71 and throughpassage 72 into passage 73. As the closure member is in ilowwayclosingposition, shown in FIG. 2, jumper recesses will have been moved intoposition establishing communication between passage 73 and upstreamsealing groove 2S. Sealant will then be forced into the latter providingthe desired plastic sealing between the end face of the seat member andopposed sealing face of the closure portion 35 of the closure segment.At thel same time, the sealant entering jumper recess 75 on the upstreamside of the valve will be forced through bore 78 of sleeve 77 and thencevia jumper recess 75 on the downstream side of the valve into sealingrecess 2S in the downstream seat member. This sealant will be blockedfrom going into the downstream reservoir by the downstream check valve74.

ABy the arrangement described, it will be seen that both the upstreamand downstream sides of the closure will be subjected substantiallysimultaneously to automatic sealant sealing from the upstream reservoir.At the same time, both seat members will be urged toward the opposedsealing faces of the related closure segments by the springs 31 and onthe upstream side this pressure will be supplemented by the force of theupstream fluid pressure, which will also -be exerted against thedownstream seat. Upstream p-ressure will move the closure member bodilyagainst the downstream seat which will serve to hold the downstream seatin close engagement with the sealing face of the downstream closuresegment, thereby assuring the sealing efficiency of the sealantdischarged into the downstream sealing groove 28.

Bearing member 38 provides a pivot means by which a limited amount ofrelative angular movement may occur between the closure segments, whichwill allow the upstream gate segment to accommodate itself to sealingface 27 of the upstream seat member in order to conform to any slightdistortions or construction inaccuracies in these elements. For thispurpose the relative dimensions of T- head 54 and T-slot SS are madesuch as to provide a small amount of clearance sufficient to accommodatethe angular movements of the closure segments. Also, by making sleeve 77of iiexible material, the sleeve member may bend or flex suiciently sothat this angular movement will not be hindered.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modification ofconnection means 41 to provide passage means for simultaneous sealing ofboth sides of the closure member when the latter is a solid or one-piecebody, rather than a segmented member. In this modification, the gatemember is designated generally by the numeral 30a. Instead of theintegral T-shaped head 54 of the previous embodiment, the connectionmeans includes the cylindrical shank 54a receivable in a correspondinglyshaped socket 55a. Shank 54a is provided near its lower end with atransverse opening 89 adapted to receive a locking pin 81 insertedthrough a registering opening 82 in the gate member. Opening 82 isclosed at its inner end and a snap ring 83 is arranged in its outer endto retain locking pin 81 in place. A packing ring 84 is arranged betweenthe outer end portion of pin 81 and opening 82 to seal against the lossof sealant.4 \In all other respects the connection elements are of thesame form as those illustrated in the previous embodiments, and thevalve elements on the whole are the same and operate in the same manneras in the principal embodiment, except that it will be evident that inthe absence of the segmented form of closure member, the adjustment ofthe individual closure segments to the seats will not occur. However,vit will be recognized that there may be many types of valveconstructions in which this type of adjustment will not be foundnecessary. In any event, as noted, both modifications provide the meansfor effecting substantially simultaneous automatic sealing of both sidesof the valve in response to pressure differentials across the valve.

It will be understood that various alternations and modifications may bemade in the details of the illustrative embodiments within the scope ofthe appended claims out Without departing from the spirit of thisinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic sealant-sealed valve, a housing having a closurechamber therein, an operable closure in the chamber having upstream anddownstream sealing faces, aligned flow ports opening into said chamber,seat members slidably mounted in the inner ends of said flow ports,means biasing the seat members toward said sealing faces, and a sealingsystem for said sealing faces including a sealant reservoir in thehousing, a movable barrier therein, conduit means providing directcommunication `for upstream line pressure between the upstream flow portand the portion of said reservoir on one side of said barrier,

and discharge passage means communicating the portion of said reservoiron the opposite side of said barrier with both said sealing faces, saidsealing system being operable when said closure is in iiow port-closingposition to force sealant from said reservoir to both said sealing facesin response to pressure differentials between the upstream anddownstream sides of the valve.

2. In a valve according to claim 1, wherein said discharge pass-agemeans includes a .passage section extending transversely through thebody of said closure member communicating with both said sealing faces.

3. In a valve according to claim 1, wherein said sealing system includesfull port sealing grooves arranged-about said iiow ports between saidseat members and said sealing faces to communicate .with said dischargepassage means when said closure attains said flow port-closing position.

4. In a valve according to claim 1, wherein said sealing system includesfull port sealing grooves arranged about said ow lports in the inner endfaces of said seat members, and wherein said discharge passage meansincludes a passage section extending transversely through the body ofsaid closure, and jumper recesses disposed in said sealing faces tocommunicate the opposite ends of said transverse passage section withthe related sealing grooves when said closure attains said flowport-closing position.

5. In a valve according to claim 1, outward-ly opening check valve meansmounted in said discharge passage means. f

6. In a valve according touclaim 1, wherein said closure is a one-piecegate-type body.

7. Ina valve according to claim 1, wherein said closure comprises agenerally flat gate-type body constituted by a pair of generallyparallel segments of like shape.

8. In a valve according to claim 1, wherein said closure comprises agenerally fiat gate-type body constituted by a pair of generallyparallel segments of like shape, and pivot means disposed between saidsegments to permit limited relative pivotal movement between saidsegments ywhereby to allow conforming adjustment off said sealing facesto the opposed end faces of said seat members.

9. In a valve according to claim 8, wherein said pivot means comprises aball-shaped bearing element having bearing engagement with the opposedinner faces of said segments.

10. In a valve according to claim 8, stem means reciprocably mounted insaid housing, `and connector means operably connecting said stem meansto both said segments, said connector means being constructed andarranged to accommodate said pivotal movement of said segments,

11. In an automatic seal-ant-sealed valve, a housing having a closurechamber therein, an operable closure in the chamber having upstream anddownstream sealing faces, aligned flow ports `opening said chamber, seatmembers slidably mounted in the inner ends of said iiow ports, meansbiasing the seat Amembers toward said sealing faces, and a sealingsystem for said sealing faces including -a pair of sealant reservoirs inthe housing, each reservoir having a movable barrier therein, eachreservoir being connected to conduit means providing directcommunication for line pressure between one of the flow ports land theportion of that reservoir on one side of said barrier, and dlschargepassage means communicating the portion -of each said reservoir on theopposite side of said barrier with both said sealing faces, said sealingsystem being operable when said closure is in flow port-closingIposition to force sealant from one of said reservoirs to both saidsealing faces in response to pressure differentials between the upstreamand downstream sides of the valve.

12. In a valve according to claim 11, wherein said discharge passagemeans from both said reservoirs includes a common passage sectionextending transversely through the body of said closure communicatingwith both said sea-ling faces.

13. In a gate Valve, a housing having a closure cha-mber therein, agate-type closure in the chamber comprising a pair of flat generallyparallel segments of like shape having sealing faces on their outersurfaces, aligned flow ports opening into said chamber, seat membersslidably mounted in the inner ends of said ow ports and havingclosure-engaging end faces, means biasting the seat members toward saidsealing faces, pivot means disposed between said segments to permitlimited relative pivotal movement between said segments whereby to allowconforming adjustment of said sealing faces to the opposed end faces ofsaid seat members, and means in said housing operable in response topressure differentials between the upstream and downstream sides of saidvalve when said closure is in the flow port-closing position forautomatically delivering sealant simultaneously to both said sealingfaces.

14. In an automatic sealant-sealed valve, a housing having a closurechamber therein, an operable closure in the chamber having upstream anddownstream sealing faces, upstream and downstream gowports opening intosaid chamber, seat sealing members mounted about said flowports, asealing system for said sealing faces including a sealant reservoirinteriorly ofsaid chamber, means to inject sealant therein, meansdirecting upstream line press-ure into said reservoir, and sealantdischarge passage means communicating said reservoir with said upstreamand downstream sealing faces, Said sealing system being operablewheritsaid closure is in dow-closing position whereby tosimultaro'ssha/Y force sealant from said reservoir to both said upstream`and downstream sealing faces in response to pressure dilerentialsacross said sealant reservoir between the upstream and downstream sidesof the valve.

15. In an automatic sealant-sealed valve, a housing having a closurechamber therein, an operable closure in the chamber having upstream anddownstream sealing faces, upstream and downstream owports opening intosaid chamber, a pair of seat members mounted about said owports eachhaving a sealing surface cooperating with said sealing faces of theclosure, a peripheral sealant groove disposed about the sealing surfaceof each said seat member, sealant conduit means connecting said seatsand grooves, a sealing system for said sealing grooves and facesincluding a sealant reservoir interiorly of said chamber, means toinject sealant therein, means directing upstream line pressure into saidreservoir, and sealant discharge passage means communicating saidreservoir with said upstream and downstream sealing faces, said sealingsystem being operable when said closure is in owclosing position wherebyto simultaneously force sealant from said reservoir to both saidupstream and downstream sealing faces in response to pressuredifferentials across said sealant reservoir between the upstream anddownstream sides of the valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,776,813 1/1957Blackman 251-197 2,956,580 10/1960 Heath 137-246.12 3,095,004 6/1963Jackson 137-246.12'X 3,135,285 6/1964 Volpin 137-246.12

FOREIGN PATENTS 867,647 5/1961 Great Britain. 367,020 3/1963Switzerland.

CLARENCE R. GORDON, Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC SEALANT-SEALED VALVE, A HOUSING HAVING A CLOSURECHAMBER THEREIN, AN OPERABLE CLOSURE IN THE CHAMBER HAVING UPSTREAM ANDDOWNSTREAM SEALING FACES, ALIGNED FLOW PORTS OPENING INTO SAID CHAMBER,SEAT MEMBERS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE INNER ENDS OF SAID FLOW PORTS,MEANS BIASING THE SEAT MEMBERS TOWARD SAID SEALING FACES, AND A SEALINGSYSTEM FOR SAID SEALING FACES INCLUDING A SEALANT RESERVOIR IN THEHOUSING, A MOVABLE BARRIER THEREIN, CONDUIT MEANS PROVIDING DIRECTCOMMUNICATION FOR UPSTREAM LINE PRESSURE BETWEEN THE UPSTREAM FLOW PORTAND THE PORTION OF SAID RESERVOIR ON ONE SIDE OF SAID BARRIER, ANDDISCHARGE PASSAGE MEANS COMMUNICATING THE PORTION OF SAID RESERVOIR ONTHE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID BARRIER WITH BOTH SAID SEALING FACES, SAIDSEALING SYSTEM BEING OPERABLE WHEN SAID CLOSURE IS IN FLOW PORT-CLOSINGPOSITION TO FORCE